2026 Election
The Democratic Party still has a lot of work to do on its own house
Obvious notes to the Democratic Party
Just because Trump is unpopular by a majority of voters does not mean that automatically redounds to Democrats’ benefit.
The Democratic Party still has a lot of work to do on its own house.
Democrats have made in-roads on the affordability narrative, slowly making the economy the priority. But too many people still perceive the party as weak.
The entire Democratic strategy debate — “moderate” or move left? fight or compromise? — is based on a misreading of data. Voters don’t think Dems are too progressive; they think Dems are weak. The actual math on what to do about this isn’t even close!
New: https://t.co/6HKn218bPJ pic.twitter.com/KUIBfK2bSk
— G Elliott Morris (@gelliottmorris) February 27, 2026
Let’s be real: There are good reasons people think the party is weak.
A brand, defined
Any entity needs a strong brand, which is about a feeling and an impression. Coca-Cola sells happiness, not just a beverage. Apple is about cool innovation, not just phones.
Trust and credibility – in this era of rank distrust– is vital. Democrats can say all the right things but are people believing, and feeling good about, them?
This gets to what plenty of others have said about what the Democratic vision for America is and what the party is for, not just against.
When he was running for Democratic National Committee chair, a position he ultimately won, Ken Martin released a memo calling for a national rebrand of the party.
Where is it? It’s still non-existent.
A suggestion
Democrats have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to recast themselves in such a way to potentially win elections for years to come. And it’s not rocket science.
In this era of extreme corruption and incompetence, the party is about leading America out of darkness with a new moral compass and economic GPS.
Sub-messages: (1) tough on the rule of law and checks and balances; (2) a vibrant economy re-designed for 90% of us; (3) the Golden Rule — a shared sense of morality, equality, and the importance of family.
Convey stability and competence and get rid of the whiff of elitism that many progressives do have. Snooty isn’t just a Republican talking point.
Quick notes on Talarico/Crocket U.S. Senate race in Texas
A campaign about the basics
Every campaign, winning ones and those that come up short, should, of course, do an after-action report. A few quick points from my perch in Houston.
Point 1: Talarico had a message. It was this: The biggest divide in America is not left/right but top versus bottom. It’s an economic populist message that takes on the billionaire class. There was a moral thread, something missing in politics for years. U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett had a strong brand--tough and savvy fighter against Trump– but I didn’t hear a clear message that had to do with Texas. Her launch ad was all about Trump. Both candidates were social media stars. (Talarico went from 0 to 60 in a few short months when it came to his name ID statewide. He was an unknown six months ago.)
Point 2: Crockett didn’t invest in a full-fledged campaign. She had little serious fundraising or grassroots operation. It felt like she was winging it. The core campaign basics weren’t there.
Point 3: CBS News’ attempt to censor people they don’t like on their own air backfired. Had the network not been worried about Trump’s FCC, CBS wouldn’t have ordered Stephen Colbert to shelve his Talarico interview. The interview, posted instead to YouTube, received much more attention (9 million views) because of the controversy. That helped his fundraising and brand.
Point 4: The national media framed the race as Talarico the moderate versus Jasmine Crockett the progressive. That was the media’s laziness. Both held similar policy positions on the mainstream left. Pundits confused political strategy, which did define the candidates, with ideology.
Point 5: There are plenty of examples in politics where money isn’t everything, meaning the candidate who raised the most money (by far) didn’t win. But, in this case, Talarico outspent Crockett $25 million to $5 million on ads, per AdImpact. In this race, money mattered. Talarico was a first-time candidate few had heard of. Crockett was a better known quantity because of her national media exposure and MAGA take-downs and clap backs.